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[ Lucrezia blames this on boredom, or curiosity, whichever you prefer.

She has a small wooden box in hand, another present since he so disliked the previous one, not that this one is intended to appease him, not precisely. She knocks softly twice, checking to see that the hallway is clear. She would not like to be seen. ]

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[It's a little late for guests, and he hasn't made any arrangements. Ezio is quiet for a moment when he hears the knock, wondering if it is his imagination, but after a moment he gets up and heads to the door. He doesn't even dress properly first; he assumes that it would only be Stephanie or Lana at this hour, and he doesn't care if either of them see him in lounge pants and a partially-buttoned shirt.

But when he opens the door, he finds himself surprised. He hadn't expected Lucrezia to actually seek him out.]

Lucrezia. Good evening.

[ There's a certain satisfaction in catching him unprepared, off guard.

Lucrezia doesn't hide her smirk, amused and smug. She offers him the box first, a swan quill and a small bottle of ink, a proper enough trinket for acquaintances and such. ]

Do you have company?

[He accepts it, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.]

I do not.

[He steps back, holding the door open wider –– he's not going to say it directly, but she's welcome to come in.]

[ She bites back a chuckle as she strolls in, taking the invitation to come in even if it's not given. So easy to please, Ezio. ]

I would not stand to have you dislike my gifts.

[He closes it behind her.]

When did I ever dislike one of your gifts, piccina?

[ She turns to face him after casting her gaze about, checking his room for any sign that he was making up this abstinence thing. ]

When they are not rightly addressed. You have no need for scales.

[His suite is, mercifully, rather tidy, and there isn't exactly much debauchery going on with Lana to create a mess with.

He turns the box to pull the ribbon off it.]

I will find a use for them regardless.

[ Nothing to show that he's lapsed in his recent whim to prove himself. She smiles eagerly, hands cradled, and waits for him to open it. ]

You must tell me when you do.

[He flips open the lid, and his smile grows a touch broader.]

I could certainly make use of this, given how often we put ink to page in our journals.

[ Lucrezia smiles too. It's a good feeling. ]

And to sign contracts and such, of course. If one were to buy property.

[He chuckles.]

Yes... and to order work from contractors to renovate said property. I was considering doing some of that here, if only to have something to do in the city.

[He sets the box down so he can fetch a bottle of wine from the kitchenette.

[ She takes liberty in fiddling with his things, checking out any trinkets and decoration. ]

What would you build? An inn? [ A brothel, Ezio? ]

[Ezio keeps his room relatively spartan -- the important stuff is in the hidden room -- but the mantle of the fireplace and the shelves are still stocked. Framed photographs and an antique gun on the mantle. Books line the bookcases, seldom-touched but a status symbol nonetheless. There's a digital camera on the mantle, too –– one of the ludicrously simple ones, for obvious reasons.]

Shelter for the poor, I was thinking.

[ Lucrezia takes the gun of course, weighing it in her hand and trying to figure out what it is exactly. ]

Do you suppose there are many orphans here?

Where aren't there orphans? There are orphans within this very castle.

[He eyes her with the gun. He doesn't exactly follow safe gun storage.]

Be careful. You could kill someone with that.

[ That just makes the gun more interesting. She purses her lips and takes care not to touch the levers at least. ]

They have a decent home, at least. Those in the city might have no place to sleep.

Hence my thought to place it within the city. Obviously their facilities are... inadequate.

[He takes a seat on the couch, setting the wine bottle and two wine glasses down on the coffee table. He pours them both liberal glasses, uncut by water.]

[ Noticing the wine, she places the gun gingerly back on the mantel so she can walk over and take a seat across from him. The wine is very welcome. ]

Would you ask for my assistance?

Perhaps.

[He takes a sip of wine and then sits back in his seat, arms stretched out along the back of the couch.]

Would you offer it?

[ Lucrezia lowers her eyes to her glass, watching the dark surface, and letting him wait. She takes a slow sip first. ]

If you asked.

I will call upon you when my plans progress that far, then.

[His eyes watch her, carefully.]

Is the wine not to your preference?

You must.

[ Lucrezia looks back, watching him watching her. ]

Shall I drain the glass and prove to you that it is?

Only if you feel challenged enough to do so.

[ Lucrezia twirls her glass by its stem and takes another sip, a bigger one, before setting it back on the table still half full. ]

My pride will not be my weakness. [ Looking at you, Ezio. ]

Edited 2013-01-05 03:52 (UTC)

And pride could be a weapon just as much as a weakness.

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